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Wedding Invitations Tips

Addressing Your Envelopes

Truth be told, there's a lot
to think about when it comes to wedding invites. Once you've
actually selected a design, you still have to go through the
process of addressing your invites, mailing them and then tracking
RSVPs.

Lucky for you, addressing envelopes is one invitation element
that has some hard-and-fast guidelines. If you address your
envelopes according to the following etiquette, you'll be well on
your way to beautiful - and proper - stationery styling.

OUTER ENVELOPE

This is where you write the recipients' full names, official
titles and address. While this might seem pretty straight forward,
remember: There should be no cutting corners with abbreviations
like Dr., NY, or St. (Mrs., Mr., Ms. and Jr. are the only
acceptable shorthands). Here's a complete set of rules:

• Titles such as Doctor, Reverend, etc. are not
abbreviated.
• Mister and Misses should be abbreviated - should read Mr. and
Mrs.
• Do not use initials or nicknames; use full names only
• If an unmarried couple is living in the same house their names
should be on separate lines; list alphabetically by last name
• Invites to a gay or lesbian couple should be addressed the same
as you would address it to any other unmarried or married
couple.
• Do not add "and family"; children's names will be listed on the
inner envelope
• Write out the word "and"; do not use symbols
• Suffixes are all properly proceeded by a comma, including Roman
numerals
• Junior and senior can be spelled out (junior or senior - not
capitalized) or abbreviated (Jr. or Sr. - capitalized); use
whichever style you prefer
• When addressing the outer envelope write out Street, Avenue or
Boulevard
• Completely spell out the state name
• North and South is written in full if it proceeds the street name
(123 South Main Street) a comma is added after the street name and
an abbreviation is used if it comes after the address (123 Cherry
Street, N.W.)

INNER ENVELOPE

Formal invitations are slipped into an unsealed inner envelope
to be placed inside the outer envelope. They are addressed in a
more informal fashion - typically only title abbreviations and last
name - and list the names of all invitees at the address, including
children. Here are some guidelines:

• Exclude the first names of the recipients
• Write the first names of children to be invited below the
parents' names in order of age, oldest first
• Children over the age of 18 should receive their own
invitation
• Omit children's names if they are not on the guest list
• If an invitation to a single guest extends to an unknown escort,
address the inner envelope with your friend's name followed by "and
guest" (guest should not be capitalized, it is not a proper
noun)

Now that you're an invitation pro, there's just one final rule
to remember: When addressing your invitation envelopes, be sure to
use your most elegant penmanship - or try hiring a professional
calligrapher to pen the names of your invited guests. In the end,
you'll be left with a beautiful invitation suite to show for i